Students from Rainbow Schools participate in Canada-Wide Science Fair

Three students from Rainbow Schools will showcase their scientific discoveries at the Canada-Wide Science Fair to be held online from May 17 to 21, 2021. Kerry Yang, Edward Xiong and Annika Matusch earned the privilege of competing nationally by capturing top honours at the Sudbury Regional Science Fair.

Kerry Yang, a Grade 11 student at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School, explored the effects of dandelion root extracts on colorectal cancer cell growth. Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths and affects an estimated four per cent of the world’s population. Some components of dandelion root extracts have been known to combat antibiotic resistance, inflammation, and digestive diseases, however, their roles against bacteria-driven colon cancer cell growth have yet to be researched. Kerry found that dandelion root extracts and taraxasterol (the main component of dandelion root extracts) were independently successful in reversing lipopolysaccharides-induced colon cancer cell growth by targeting the genetic coding, effectively stopping the production of pro-inflammatory genes and preventing cancer cell growth. Kerry’s project suggests the promising potential of dandelion root extracts and taraxasterol against lipopolysaccharide-induced colorectal cancer. For her project “Reversal of Bacteria-driven Colorectal Cancer Cell Growth by Dandelion Root Extracts”, Kerry received First Place, Senior Division, Life Sciences, the Biology Award, the Chemistry/Biochemistry Award, the Jack and Maija Ceming Chemistry Award, and Best in Fair.

Edward Xiong, a Grade 10 student at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School, created “Autonomous Prevention of Bus Overcrowding and Mask Detection.” Edward’s research showed that six per cent of people commuting on the Toronto Transition Commission (TTC) were not wearing masks properly, increasing the likelihood of community transmission of COVID-19. In an effort to limit the spread, Edward developed a device that uses machine learning to count the number of people getting on and off the bus. The device sends a message to TTC management if the bus is overcrowded. The device also uses machine learning to determine if passengers are wearing their mask properly, and uses an infrared camera to determine each person’s temperature as they board the bus. If a person is not wearing a mask and has a fever, an alert is sent to TTC management. These alerts will allow TTC to add more buses on overcrowded routes, and inform Public Health of any potential risk for close contact with a possible COVID-19 case on a bus route. For his efforts, Edward Xiong garnered First Place, Intermediate Division, Engineering, the OPG Engineering Award, the Founding Members’ Award, and the Science, Engineering and Architecture Award – Engineering.

Annika Matusch, a Grade 10 student at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School, designed a semi-autonomous ship to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the largest collection of waste on the planet with over 80,000 tons of plastic. The ship uses two booms with a 30 metre spread to collect trash and direct items into grated conveyors. The trash is drained and brought into a main compartment, then to an industrial-grade shredder, which uses pyrolysis to turn the materials into syngas and char. Syngas will provide electrical generation, and the ship will be able to convert approximately 720 kilograms of waste per day into 12.7 gigajoules, enough energy to run every component of the system. With a projected cost of $7.5 million, the system turns waste into sustainable energy on the spot, making the solution realistic, cost-effective and energy-neutral. Annika’s project “Cleaning Up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch: Designing a Sustainable Solution Using Pyrolysis” garnered First Place, Intermediate Division, Engineering, the FROSKR Environmental Award, as well as the OPG Energy, Environmental and Engineering Awards.

“We are so proud of our young scientists for their exceptional achievement,” says Norm Blaseg, Director of Education for Rainbow District School Board. “Our community will be well represented at the national level. We wish all participants continued success as they showcase their impressive research among their peers from across Canada.”

Rainbow District School Board congratulates all Sudbury Regional Science Fair winners.

2021 SUDBURY REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR WINNERS FROM RAINBOW SCHOOLS

DIVISIONAL AWARDS

INTERMEDIATE DIVISION – ENGINEERING

First
Autonomous Prevention of Bus Overcrowding and Mask Detection
Edward Xiong
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

Cleaning Up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch:
Designing a Sustainable Solution Using Pyrolysis
Annika Matusch
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

SENIOR DIVISION – LIFE SCIENCES

First
Reversal of Bacteria-driven Colorectal Cancer Cell Growth by Dandelion Root Extracts
Kerry Yang
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

SPECIAL AWARDS

FROSKR Environmental Award
Cleaning Up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch:
Designing a Sustainable Solution Using Pyrolysis
Annika Matusch
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

OPG Energy Award
Cleaning Up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch:
Designing a Sustainable Solution Using Pyrolysis
Annika Matusch
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

OPG Environmental Award
Cleaning Up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch:
Designing a Sustainable Solution Using Pyrolysis
Annika Matusch
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

OPG Engineering Award
Autonomous Prevention of Bus Overcrowding and Mask Detection
Edward Xiong
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

Cleaning Up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch:
Designing a Sustainable Solution Using Pyrolysis
Annika Matusch
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

Founding Members’ Award
Autonomous Prevention of Bus Overcrowding and Mask Detection
Edward Xiong
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

Jack and Maija Ceming Chemistry Award
Reversal of Bacteria-driven Colorectal Cancer Cell Growth by Dandelion Root Extracts
Kerry Yang
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

Science, Engineering and Architecture Award – Engineering
Autonomous Prevention of Bus Overcrowding and Mask Detection
Edward Xiong
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

Biology Award
Reversal of Bacteria-driven Colorectal Cancer Cell Growth by Dandelion Root Extracts
Kerry Yang
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

Chemistry/Biochemistry Award
Reversal of Bacteria-driven Colorectal Cancer Cell Growth by Dandelion Root Extracts
Kerry Yang
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

2021 Grand Award Winners and Canada-Wide Science Fair Participants:

Reversal of Bacteria-driven Colorectal Cancer Cell Growth by Dandelion Root Extracts
Kerry Yang
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

Autonomous Prevention of Bus Overcrowding and Mask Detection
Edward Xiong
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

Cleaning Up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch:
Designing a Sustainable Solution Using Pyrolysis
Annika Matusch
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

Best in Fair

Reversal of Bacteria-driven Colorectal Cancer Cell Growth by Dandelion Root Extracts
Kerry Yang
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171, ext. 7217.